Welfare Science

Food System Transformation: Animal Welfare as a Core Goal

Overview of food system transformation and the role of animal welfare as a core goal alongside climate and health.

Key Facts

Animal agriculture contributes approximately 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions
A food system transformed toward plant-based diets addresses climate, health, and welfare simultaneously
Meat consumption is declining in some high-income countries but rising in emerging economies
Policy alignment between climate, health, and animal welfare agendas is growing
Systems thinking approaches integrate animal welfare into food system transformation frameworks

Welfare Considerations

Food system transformation that embeds animal welfare as a core goal alongside climate and health creates synergistic benefits. Reducing industrial animal agriculture addresses climate change, public health, antibiotic resistance, and animal welfare simultaneously. Policy and advocacy coalitions that align these agendas are more powerful than single-issue campaigns. The food system transformation movement increasingly recognises animal welfare as central to its goals.

What You Can Do

Support food system transformation campaigns that integrate animal welfare as a core goal
Engage with coalitions linking climate, health, and animal welfare in food system advocacy
Advocate for public food procurement standards that require higher-welfare animal products